Buffing and polishing device



June 17, 1952 M. MONGER 2,501,043

BUF'FING AND POLISHING DEVICE Filed May 19, 1950 'i JNVENTOR.

Patented June 17, 1952 BUFFING AND POLISHING DEVICE Maynard L. Menger, deceased, late of Royal Oak, Mich., by Beatrice W. Menger, administratrx, Detroit, Mich., assgnor to Beatrice W. Monger Application May 19, 1950, Serial N0. 162,922

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to buifing or polishing tools, and more particularly to a rotary buflng or polishing wheel of the type in which an abrasive sleeve is supported on an iniiated flexible cylinder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bufling and polishing tool of the aforementioned type, in which an inflatable rubber cylinder is supported on a central hub structure'and sealingly connected therewith in a novel, simple and eiiicient manner.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide in a bung and polishing tool of the aforementioned type, a novel and inexpensive hub construction and arrangement for connecting the same with the inflated cylindrical bag or member.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a bufiing and polishing tool of the aforementioned type which can support one or more sleeves of abrasive material, which can beeasily inflated or deflated to properly support the abrasive sleeve, and which can be easily assembled and disassembled.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a durable, compact, lightweight and inexpensive buiing and polishing tool, in which the abrasive sleeve is supportedby a flexible cylindrical backing member from end to end.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an end elevational view of the tool of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure l; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 3 3 thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the bufng and polishing tool of this invention includes a hub 5, which is composed of a pair of end to end aligned members 1 and 9, which are annular in cross section. The member 1 is recessed at I I to telescopically receive the adjacent end of the member 9, and the member 9 is provided with an annular flange I3 which engages the inner periphery of an annular cavity I5 in the member 1, so as to aid in maintaining the hub members 1 and 9 in proper alignment. The members 1 and 9 are formed separably, and preferably from molded plastic, and are detachably interconnected. The member 1 is formed with a passageway I1 which extends from the cavity I5 through one end thereof and in which a headed valve stern I9 is inserted, so that the head 2l is disposed in the cavity I5, prior to the assembly of the two hub members 1 and 9. A rubber seal 23 is disposed between the valve stem head 2| and the adjacent'wall of the cavity I5,

while a nut 25 is threaded on the exterior end of the valve stem I9, so as to draw the head 2| against the seal 23 and the wall of the cavity to provide an air tight seal between the valve stem and the hub. The valve stem contains a conventional valve 24, such as a Schroeder valve, and is adapted to be connected with a suitable air pump, or compressed air outlet, for reasons which will hereinafter appear.

Disposed adjacent the opposite end faces of each of the hub members 1 and 9 are end plate members 21 and 29 respectively. The plate member 21 is provided with a central opening 3l, through which the exterior end of the valve stem I9 projects. The plate member 29 is provided with an inwardly extending threaded opening 31, in which a spindle of a rotary drive mechanism may be inserted and connected for rotatably driving the tool.

A flexible, air impervious cylinder or bag 39, made preferably of rubber, surrounds the hub 5 and end members 21 and 29, and includes a peripheral wall 4I, the thickness of which is increased in the center at 43 to aid in preventing any bulging of the cylinder when it is iniiated, as will hereinafter appear. The peripheral wall 4I of the cylinder is spaced from the periphery of the hub 5, so as to provide an air space 45 between the hub and cylinder peripheral wall. The cylinder 39 is formed with annular end walls or portions 41, which extend radially inwardly from each end of the peripheral wall 4I and each of which terminates in an annular second wall portion 49, which extends inwardly substantially parallel to the peripheral wall 4I. An annular flange 5I extends radially inwardly from the inner end of each second wall portion 49, which is o'f a dovetail shape in crosssection. The annular wall portions 41 and 49 of the cylinder 39 are constructed, as can be seen in Fig. 2, so that there will be no tendency for the cylinder, when it is inflated, to blow out or bulge adjacent the ends thereof, while at the same time, ilexibility is still provided from one end to the other of the cylinder.

The opposite end faces of the hub members 1 and 9 are notched back or recessed at 53, adjacent their outer periphery, and the inner faces of the end members 21 and 29 are likewise notched back or recessed at so that when the end members are properly assembled and positioned with respect to the hub member, the recesses 53 and 55 will coact to provide an annular recess or groove at each end of the hub, which is of a dovetail shape in cross section and in which the adjacent dovetail flange 5I of the cylinder 39 is received.

It should also be noted that the outer periphery of each of the end members 21 and 29 engages the inner periphery of the adjacent second wall portion 49 of the cylinder 39, so as to aid in supporting the adjacent end of the cylinder. Cap screws'59 y'extend longitudinally vthrough the end member 21 and hub 5, and have their shank ends threaded into tapped openings 6I in the end member 29, while the head 63 of each cap screw engages the outer face of the end member 21. By threading the studs 59 into the end member 29 the end members 21 and 29 will be drawn toward each other and into the .proper aligned relationship with the hub members 1 and 9. When the end members 21 and`29 are drawn toward each other by the tightening of the cap screws, the annular dovetailed flange I of the cylinder 39 will be sealingly clamped between the end members and the hub members 1 and 9 to provide a positive and effective seal between the inatable cylinder 39 and the central hub structure. This dovetailed construction assures maximum sealing and at the same time provides a suitable 'means for properly supporting the rubber cylinder on the central hub structure, in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

When the bufng and polishing tool is in use, a sleeve 65 'of'. abrasive material such as sandpaper, emery cloth or the like, is inserted over the peripheral wall 4I of the cylinder. The cylinder is then inflated by connecting the valve stem I9 with an air pump or compressed air outlet, and the air flows through the valve stem into the hub cavity I5. The air flows from the hub cavity I5 through a passageway 61 in the hub member 1, to the air space 45 between the hub and the cylinder peripheral wall, in order to inflate the cylinder or bag 39. the cylinder the peripheral wall willv frictionally engage the abrasive sleeve 65, and if desired several'abrasive sleeves or a continuous wrapping of abrasive material may be applied to the outer periphery of the cylinder for buing and L polishing operations or the like. The cylinder may beeasily deflated by letting air out through the valve stem I9 tov enable the abrasive sleeve to be easily removed, and the entire device may be easily assembled and disassembled, due to the construction previously illustrated and described.

It will thus be yseen that a simple, eicient and durable bufling tool of the type in which an iniiatable rubber cylinder provides a ilexible backing member for an abrasive sleeve, is provided, which is of a relatively light weight and which may be easily connected with any suitable driving mechanism, or the like, forrotation of the same. Also because the abrasive sleeve is ilexibly backed throughout its length the tool has a large variety of uses in the polishing and bufling eld.

What is claimed is:

1. A 'puffing and polishing wheel including a hub composed of a pair of separable members disposed in an end to end aligned relationship, one of said members having a cavity therein adjacent the other of said members and a passageway communicating with said cavity and extending through one end thereof, a headed valve stem extending through said passageway and having the headed end thereof disposed within said cavity, platelike clamping elements disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said hub members, one of said elements having an opening therein through which said valve stem extends, the opposite ends of said hub members and each of said platelike elements being recessed so asto coact to provide annular recesses which are of a dovetail shapein cross section, a cylindrical flexible By inflating between, end portions extending radially inwardly from the opposite ends of said peripheral wall and including an annular portion which is of a dovetail shape in cross section and disposed within said annular dovetail recess formed in said hub and platelike elements, means interconnecting said platelike elements and clamping said dovetail portions between said elements and said hub soA as to provide a sealed connection, and passageway means in said hub communicating said hub cavity with the air space between said cylindrical member peripheral wall and said hub.

2. A polishing and buiing tool including a hub, a hollow flexible cylinder surrounding said hub and providing an air space between said hub and the peripheral wall of said cylinder, anr annular end wall extending radially inwardly from each end of said cylinder peripheral wall and terminating in a second annular wall extending longitudinally inwardly substantially parallel to said peripheral wall, an annular ange extending radially inwardly from said second wall and being of a dovetail shape in cross section, the opposite ends of said hub being recessed so as to receive a portion of each of said dovetail anges, annular end members disposed adjacent :nid hub ends and having the outer periphery thereof engaging the inner periphery of each of said second annular walls, said end members being recessed to receive a portion of each of said dovetail iianges so that said flanges are coniined between said hub and end members, means interconnecting said end members and sealingly retaining said flanges between said end members and said hub, exteriorly accessible valve means supported in said hub and communicating with the air space between said hub and cylinder member peripheral wall to permit said cylinder to be inflated.

3. A bufng and polishing tool including a hub composed of a pair of separable end to end mem- :bers having the adjacent ends in telescopic engagement, one of said members having a cavity therein adjacent the other of said members and a passageway communicating with said 'cavity and extending through one end of the member, a lvalve stem extending through said passageway `and having the headed end thereof vdisposed 'within said cavity, platelike clamping elements disposed adjacent the opposite end faces of said hub members, one of said elements having an opening therein through which said valve stem extends, a cylindrical ilexible element surrounding said hub and platelike elements, the peripheral Wall of which is spaced from said hub so as to provide an air space between the hub and element peripheral wall, said cylindrical flexible element including end Wall portions extending radially inwardly from the opposite ends thereof, the opposite ends of said hub members and each of said platelike elements being recessed so as to coa-ct to provide annular recesses in which are received -the inner ends of the cylindrical element wall portions, means interconnecting said platelike elements and clamping said wall portions between said clamping elements and said hub so as to sealingly connect said cylindrical element with said hub, andpassageway means in said hub lcommunicating said hub cavity with the air space between said cylindrical member peripheralwall and said hub.

. 4. A buing and polishing tool including a hub composed of a pair of separable members disposed in an end to end aligned relationship, one of said members having a cavity therein and a passageway communicating with said cavity and extending through one end thereof, a headed valve stem extending through said passageway and having the headed end thereof disposed within said cavity, annular platelike clamping elements disposed adjacent the opposite end faces of said hub member, one of said elements having an opening therein through which said valve stem extends and the other of said elements being adapted to be connected to a rotating spindle, the opposite end faces of said hub members and the adjacent faces of said platelike elements being annularly recessed so as to coact to provide annular recesses at each end of the hub whi-ch are of a dovetailed shape in cross section, a hollow `flexible cylinder surrounding said hub and providing an air space between said hub and the peripheral wall of said cylinder, an annular end wall extending radially inwardly from each end of said cylinder peripheral wall and terminating in a second annular Wall extending inwardly substantially parallel to said peripheral wall, an annular flange extending radially inwardly from said second wall and being oi a dovetail shape in cross section, each of said annular flanges being disposed in one of said annular recesses so as to be confined between said hub and platelike elements, the outer periphery of each of said platelike elements engaging the adjacent inner periphery of said cylinder second annular wall. means interconnecting said platelike elements and said hub members so as to sealingly retain said cylinder flanges between said platelike elements and said hub, and passageway means in said hub communicating said hub cavity with the air space between said cylinder and said hub.

5. A polishing and buffing tool including a hub, a hollow, flexible, air impervious cylinder surrounding said hub and providing an air space between said hub and the peripheral wall of said cylinder, an annular end Wall extending radially inwardly from each end of said cylinder peripheral wall and terminating in a second annular i:

wall extending longitudinally inwardly substantially parallel to said peripheral wall, an annular flange extending radially inwardly from said second Wall, the opposite ends of said hub .being recessed so as to receive a portion of each of said flanges, annular end members disposed adia cent said hub ends and having the outer peripheries thereof engaging the inner peripheries of said second annular walls, each of said end members being recessed to receive a portion of one f.

of said anges so thatsaid flanges are conned between said hub and end members, means interconnecting said end members and sealingly retaining said flanges between said end members and said hub, and exteriorly accessible valve means supported by said hub and communicating with the air space between said hub and cylinder member peripheral wall for enabling the flexible cylinder to be inflated.

6. A. hub on which an iniiatable flexible cylinder is mountable comprising a pair of separable interfitting hub portions, one hub portion having an axial circular cavity, the other hub portion having an axial annular projection, an air pasaeeway and control valve in the said hub por- 7 tion for regulating the now of air between its axis and periphery, an annular platelike memaeonoes ber adjacent to the said hub portion and around 'the said control valve having an inner peripheral recessed edge forming a dove-tailed recess in conjunction with an vou-ter peripheral recessed edge on the said hub portion, the other said hub portion having a partial axial recess, a second plate-like member adjacent to u the said other hub portion and extending into the said axial recess of the said other hub portion, la threaded bore in the center of the second platelike member for -mounting on a spindle of a powers/driven tool. an inner peripheral recessed edge on the said second platelike member forming a dove-tailed recess in conjunction with an outer peripheral recessed edge on the said other hub portion, connecting means to pull and to hold together the hub and platelike portions after sealingly mounting free end portions of an inflatable cylinder lwithin the said dove-tailed recesses.

7. A buing and polishing tool comprising a ahub composed of a pair of separable telescopically intertting annular members their combined outer peripheries forming a concave annular surface, an air passageway and control valve in one of the said hub members for regulating the flow of air between its axis and periphery, a partial axial recess in the other of the said hub members, annular recesses in the outer radial surfaces of the said hub members, annular plate members adjacent each said hub member, annular recesses in the inner radial surfaces of the said annular plates opposite the said annular recesses in the said hub members thereby forming dove-tailed recesses. one plate member fitting around the air Naive in the said hub member, a projection on the other plate member fitting into the said partial axial recess of the said other hub memlber, a threaded bore in the said projection for mounting on a spindle, an inflatable flexible cyl- Iinder spaced apart and surrounding the said hub having an enlarged inner central portion thereby forming an annular air space of variable cross section in conjunction with the said concave annular outer periphery of the said hub, an annular end wall integral with and extending yradially inwardly from each end of the said flexible cylinder and terminating in an annular integr-al rim surface substantially parallel to the said flexible cylinder, a dove-tailed integral projection extending radially inwardly vfrom the said annular rim surface into one of Ithe said dovetailed recesses, means interconnecting said plate members and said hub members to sealingly secure the said dove-tailed projections within the said dove-tailed recesses, a replaceable working material mounted on the outer surface of the said lflexible cylinder.

BEATRICE W. MONGER. Admnistratrz'a: of the Estate of Maynard L.

Menger, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 493,002 Webster Mar. 7, 1893 683,122 Knill Sept. 24, 1901 704,509 Cadman July 15, 1902 1,487,256 Mall Mar, 18, 1924 2,490,472 Raske Dec. 6, 1949 

